Reunify’sTech-Know Tuesday: YouTube Live 360
With F8 opening up the discussion for the new wave of VR tech that’s sweeping the nation last week, there are more and more companies that want to enter the race. YouTube just happens to be one of those companies that want to get their feet wet and try their hand at creating a VR experience for consumers.
This morning, YouTube announced it’s newest feature: live streaming, 360-degree video, or what they call Live 360. Although it’s still steps away from actual VR, it is definitely a step in the right direction. The goal according to YouTube is “completely immersive entertainment that transports the viewer to another world.” People see this as the bridge between the visual experience viewers get today and the VR experience everyone is trying to get to in the near future.
Besides being a stepping-stone in the right direction, the other perk to this technology is the lower price point and increased accessibility for the common user. According to YouTube “There is no fancy technology to purchase or integrate,” instead it allows users the opportunity to work with cameras that cost as little as $350, unlike the $17,000 for Facebook’s open-source hardware for it’s VR tech, Oculus Rift.
Although, an exciting venture, they still have a long road ahead of them to prove both the functionality and also usefulness of the tech. Especially since there are many skeptics that wonder if it will indeed be as immersive of an experience as is advertised, or if it’s just another attempt at 3D-like viewing. Perfecting the visuals is a difficult task given the need for high Internet speed and quality. Reunify’s Senior Data Scientist Samuel Kim ways on the matter stating:
“There is little doubt about the fact that VR will drastically change the way we consume multimedia contents. It seems like many big players, like Google or Facebook, are ready to jump and try to seize the market. From the technical point of view however, it requires a lot of improvements in its supporting technologies. The 360 camera is just the beginning; things like data compression standard to transmit enormous data from 3D videos over Internet, immersive sound related technology (360 microphones, headset), etc. still need to be figured out. Artificial intelligence related technologies would boost the immersive feelings by providing an interactive environment.”
Although there’s much to be perfected, the end user experience and interaction is the main goal. This is why Reunify finds this technology fascinating and perfect for the world of retention science. What better way of engaging and interacting with your members, whether in the fitness or any other customer-service oriented field, then providing them with an immersive experience where they can choose the environment and experience they’re a part of. Imagine being able to provide your gym members with their idea of a perfect workout environment along the beach, or in a rainforest, or rock climbing on a world-famous mountain range, without them having to travel further than your gym to attain it. This is the ultimate retention tool, to be able to offer what your customer wants while keeping them at your facility. We here at Reunify are eagerly awaiting the advancements in this field, to see how we can use this tech as a tool for retention in the near future.